Solving inverse problems in evaluation of tests of rocket and space hardware using the methods of the optimal control theory

There are many known examples in the history of applied sciences where methods and approaches developed for one field of studies turn out to be quite effective for other fields, which at first glance seem to be absolutely unrelated. This observation is fully applicable to problems in processing and interpretation of experimental data from the results of tests on some dynamic systems, in particular, onboard systems of rocket and space equipment. This paper discusses from that standpoint some of the typical inverse problems encountered when evaluating the state of such systems. It shows how, in a number of cases that often occur in practice, methodological difficulties of solving such problems can be overcome by using methods developed in another known area of applied math, optimal control theory.